Although every state has laws regarding the use of car seats, and despite the fact that these seats have saved many children’s lives, some have design and/or production flaws that can endanger children by trapping them or ejecting them from a vehicle in the event of an accident. In fact, from 1998 to 2001 alone, four major manufacturers of child safety seats issued five different recalls that ultimately affected an approximate 10 million car seats in the U.S. Over this same period of time, approximately 500 cases of a child being seriously injured as a result of using a defective car seat had been reported to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Types of Defects in Some Car Seats
Research shows that 96 percent of parents believe that their child is safely and properly secured in his car seat; however, about 70 percent are actually restrained improperly either due to a parent’s error in securing the safety seat or due to a defect in the device. Some of the ways in which car seats can be defective involve (not limited to):
- dysfunctional latches that don’t stay closed when confronted by mild force
- dysfunctional latches that are extremely difficult to remove and can trap children in the case of an emergency
- flimsy frames that can collapse under slight pressure
- straps with faulty adjusters, which can cause the straps to loosen easily
- straps of low-quality that are easy to rip apart
- straps that are flammable
Should any of these defects be associated with a car seat, even the mildest collision in a motor vehicle can quickly turn into a dire emergency.
Defective Car Seat Lawyers
If you believe that a defective child safety seat played a role in causing your infant’s injuries or wrongful death, our defective device attorneys want you to know that you are not alone – we are here to help you hold car seat manufacturers responsible if they have acted in a negligent or reckless manner. Injured parties can learn more about their legal rights, receive a comprehensive assessment of their case, and get professional legal advice on the best way in which to proceed with legal action by calling today for a free initial consultation with an experienced car seat lawyer. You may be entitled to compensation, and the lawyers at Chaffin Luhana can help. Call our toll free number for a free, no-obligation case evaluation: 1-888-480-1123.
